Consumers' accessibility to over-the-counter dietary supplements is unlimited. Alarmingly, although dietary supplement use is on the rise, national surveys have shown a gross underreporting to health care practitioners. This has resulted in a growing concern in the concomitant use of dietary supplements with prescription medications and certain disease states; therefore, it is essential for health care providers to aid in the decision-making process to assess safety and efficacy of dietary supplement use. Although all health care practitioners can aid consumers in making informed decisions, pharmacists are in a key role due to their accessibility, knowledge of alternative medicines, and training in pathophysiology and pharmacology. In addition to assessing the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements when determining the appropriateness of use in consumers, pharmacists should also consider various patient characteristics, including the presence of disease states, concomitant use of other medications/ supplements, and cost. Thoroughly evaluating all of these factors should aid pharmacists in helping consumers make informed decisions prior to purchasing supplements. This article discusses an evidence-based approach to selecting dietary supplements, including the laws surrounding these products, professional organizations' position statements, con- cerns with use, special populations, quality control programs, and reliable databases/information resources to aid in selection.
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